Dear Friends of the Einstein Foundation,
We wish you a happy New Year and hope that you have started 2026 in good health and with confidence.
For Berlin as a hub of science and scholarship, a pivotal decision lies ahead in the first quarter of 2026. In March, the German Council of Science and Humanities (Wissenschaftsrat) will announce whether the Berlin University Alliance (BUA) will once again receive funding under Germany’s Excellence Strategy. Anyone who has followed the development of Berlin’s research landscape over the past seven years has good reason to be optimistic that favorable conditions will continue in the years ahead. The announcement of two Leibniz Prizes awarded to Berlin-based researchers in December further highlights the strength and disciplinary breadth of research in Berlin.
The Science Year 2026 is dedicated to the theme “Medicine of the Future.” In line with this focus, we will launch three new initiatives in January that address areas where 21st-century medicine must respond to pressing global and societal challenges. The Einstein Center for Youth Mental Health places the mental health of young people at the forefront—an area of research of growing importance. The new Einstein Center for Early Disease Interception aims to detect diseases at earlier stages and to more firmly anchor preventive approaches in medical research. And with the Einstein Research Unit Pathways to Interdisciplinary Research in Global Health, jointly supported by the BUA, we are sending a clear signal of international responsibility and cooperation—countering the global trend toward isolation. We firmly believe that science can unfold its full impact only through collaboration across borders. Health challenges in particular can only be addressed collectively: through the exchange of knowledge, perspectives, and talent across countries.
Accordingly, attracting and supporting international talent will remain a core priority of the Einstein Foundation in 2026. Whether through support at the postdoctoral level or through targeted funding for international appointments, our aim is to help ensure that Berlin continues to be a magnet for outstanding researchers from around the world. That the Berlin Senate and House of Representatives are providing the Einstein Foundation with an additional four million euros per year for this mission—despite tight public budgets—is also a strong expression of confidence in the work of our governing bodies.
Over the past year, it has become increasingly clear how profoundly the megatrend of artificial intelligence is transforming scientific practice—in teaching, research, and evaluation and review processes. This development will continue and accelerate in 2026. While it promises gains in efficiency, it also brings unintended side effects. During a transitional period, it may become more difficult to identify reliable scientific knowledge and to navigate a research landscape increasingly affected by hallucinated information. The science system as a whole is therefore challenged to adapt its evaluation processes to these new realities in ways that strengthen—rather than further erode—trust in research findings. This also applies to the Einstein Foundation, and we will engage with these questions in 2026. A key element will remain our support for those who are committed to robust standards and quality assurance. With the Einstein Foundation Award, we recognize this engagement and contribute to maintaining and strengthening trust in science. On 14 March 2026, we will celebrate the 2025 awardees at a ceremonial event at the Bode Museum in Berlin, including the recipient of the Individual Award, Simine Vazire, Professor of Psychology Ethics and Wellbeing at the University of Melbourne. The next call for nominations opens on 26 January at award.einsteinfoundation.de.
In 2026, we will continue to serve as a source of inspiration and a reliable partner to Berlin’s universities and research institutions, working together to strengthen Berlin as a hub of science and to advance it as a place of innovation and international collaboration.
We thank you for your interest and look forward to meeting many of you in person at our events throughout the year.
Once again, we wish you all the best for 2026!
Martin Rennert
Chair of the Board
Thorsten Wilhelmy
Managing Director